Every morning more than 300 000 Clark County children board bright yellow buses, walk along busy corridors like Charleston Boulevard, or pedal past Allegiant Stadium on the way to class. Most of those trips end with a hug from a favorite teacher and another ordinary day. Yet phone calls to University Medical Center and Sunrise Hospital show that hundreds of local students seek emergency treatment each year for broken bones, concussions, burns, and assaults that happened on school grounds. When a school injury strikes, families face medical bills, lost workdays, and fear for a child’s future. At Janda Law Firm we combine legal skill with medical insight so Las Vegas families can focus on healing while we pursue fair compensation.
Founder Dr. Paul Janda is Nevada’s only board-certified neurologist-attorney. That dual training lets our team read CT scans, challenge defense experts, and explain long-term effects to juries in plain language. We have secured millions of dollars for injured students, and we are ready to stand beside your family too. Call (702) 758-8888 or fill out a free case evaluation request on this page at anytime.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that non-fatal victimization at school fell for much of the last decade but ticked upward again in 2022, reaching 22 incidents per 1 000 students nationwide NCES Indicators of School Crime and Safety (2024). Clark County mirrors that trend. With nearly twice the enrollment of any other Nevada district and sprawling campuses near busy roads like I-15 and U-S 95, CCSD faces unique challenges:
State law does require each Nevada public school to develop a site safety plan, but staffing shortages and budget caps often leave hall monitors covering multiple wings. Vegas Golden Knights caps and Raiders jerseys dot the hallways, yet the enthusiasm can turn rowdy when rival schools meet, leading to hallway fights that should have been prevented with adequate security. Our legal team digs into security camera footage and district policy manuals to show where prevention broke down.
Las Vegas schools share hazards common across the country, but several local factors add danger:
Desert climate. Asphalt playgrounds can hit 160 °F by mid-day. Uncovered metal slides burn small hands in seconds, and dehydration ramps up concussion severity.
Tourist traffic. Strip congestion forces buses and teen drivers to dodge ride-share vehicles unfamiliar with school-zone rules.
Large class sizes. CCSD’s own 2024 class-size report shows many elementary homerooms with 30 or more students, making one-on-one supervision unrealistic CCSD Class Size Data (2024).
Because we live and work here, we know the shortcuts kids use near Valley High, the blind corners around Rancho, and how afternoon desert winds can lift unsecured backstop nets on baseball fields. Local knowledge lets us gather on-scene evidence before conditions change.
Every child and every school is different, yet certain patterns appear in our case files:
Each diagnosis brings unique long-term costs. A growth-plate fracture may require follow-up surgeries for years, and a concussion can affect learning speed well into adulthood. Our firm calculates future therapy, tutoring, and adaptive-technology expenses so nothing is left out of settlement talks.
Nevada follows the doctrine of governmental immunity, yet the legislature carved out clear exceptions when public entities act with negligence. Under Nevada Revised Statutes §41.032, schools are generally protected for discretionary policy decisions, but they remain liable for operational negligence such as failing to repair a known trip hazard. Separately, NRS 388 imposes mandatory duties to investigate bullying and keep children safe.
Key takeaways for parents:
Our team identifies every liable party—from the custodian who left a wet floor unmarked to the helmet manufacturer that failed quality control—so we can pursue the maximum recovery allowed by law.
Defense attorneys often cite sovereign immunity in early motions, hoping to end the case before discovery. We counter by highlighting exceptions:
Operational negligence. If a teacher knew a swing-set chain was cracked and took no action, that is an operational failure, not a protected policy choice.
Statutory duties. When staff miss the 24-hour window to start a bullying investigation, they violate a specific duty created by the legislature, removing immunity.
Dangerous-condition exception. A hidden hole in a sports field qualifies as a premises defect, similar to hazards addressed in roadway cases.
Because Dr. Janda understands both medical causation and legal causation, we prepare expert reports that make judges comfortable denying immunity motions and letting juries hear the real story.
Families are often surprised by the short timeline:
Missing a single deadline can sink an otherwise strong case, so our office handles all filings, certified-mail receipts, and electronic service confirmations.
Successful claims rest on solid proof. Our investigation may collect:
We also use Dr. Janda’s medical background to interpret imaging studies, EEG results, and neuro-psych testing. This medical-legal synergy often persuades opposing carriers to settle early.
Nevada law allows recovery for both economic and non-economic losses. Depending on the facts, a settlement or verdict may include:
Our life-care planners project costs through adulthood, using inflation-adjusted tables so your family is not left paying out of pocket in ten years.
The standard statute of limitations for personal injury in Nevada is two years, but school injury cases have extra notice hurdles. A formal claim against the district must be mailed to the Clark County School District’s Risk Management Office at 5100 W. Sahara Avenue within that period. Claims against private security contractors or equipment makers follow the regular two-year timeline. If the injury involved a school bus operated by a private company, federal transportation rules may apply, giving you additional avenues for recovery.
Parents of younger children sometimes think the clock stops until the child turns eighteen. That pause applies to the lawsuit, not the pre-suit notice. Missing the notice step can close the courthouse doors, so call us as soon as possible.
Our approach sets us apart from volume-based firms:
Medical insight from day one. Dr. Janda reviews imaging and lab results within hours, allowing targeted referrals instead of guesswork.
On-site inspections. We visit the exact patch of asphalt where the fall occurred, measure slopes, and photograph broken playground bolts before repairs erase evidence.
Expert network without extra cost. Because our lead attorney is a neurologist, we rarely need to hire outside brain-injury experts, saving our clients thousands in upfront expenses.
Trial-ready reputation. Insurance carriers know we do not fold for quick offers. Recent six-figure verdicts in Clark County send a clear message: pay fair value or see us in court.
Our contingency fee means you never write a check for legal services unless we recover money for your family.
Nevada’s two-year limit applies, but you also need to send a formal notice to the district inside that window. Earlier is better because video evidence is often overwritten within 30 days.
No. Immunity covers policy decisions, not negligent actions like failing to supervise recess or ignoring a broken handrail. We analyze the facts to locate exceptions that open the path to compensation.
Nevada uses comparative negligence. As long as your child’s share of fault is below 51 percent, you can still recover damages, reduced by that percentage.
Charters receive public funds yet may have different insurance arrangements. Private schools lack sovereign immunity, so damage caps usually do not apply. We tailor the claim to each school’s status.
Federal law bars retaliation for asserting legal rights. In practice, we work quietly to resolve claims and can request protective orders that seal sensitive records.
Yes. Nevada recognizes emotional distress as a separate harm. Testimony from counselors and school psychologists supports this part of the claim.
Nothing up front. We advance all costs and collect a percentage only when we obtain compensation for you.
Most school injury cases settle during discovery once the district sees the strength of our evidence. If fair offers do not materialize, we are fully prepared for trial.
Your child deserves a safe learning environment and the resources to heal when safety fails. Evidence fades quickly, and legal deadlines march on, so do not wait. Call (702) 758-8888 or request a free consultation now. Our friendly staff will schedule a free consultation at our Wellness Way office or through a secure video call. Let us handle the paperwork while you focus on your child’s recovery and return to class.
